Chapter 196
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: An Unpleasant Seed (2)
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So Yeonsim declined the spar, saying she had things to do, and left.
Seo Ryang sat in the training grounds, lost in thought.
‘I can't be sure. But a sensitive rumor like that wouldn't just appear out of nowhere.’
The rumor broke out as if it had been waiting for Seo Ryang's return to the cult. And it happened after just one night.
It usually takes time for such rumors to slowly surface. But isn't this too much of a coincidence?
‘If someone orchestrated this, they must have prepared it in advance.’
And within the cult, there were only five people who could and would have a reason to make such preparations.
‘All the candidates except me.’
Of course, the probability of it being Jin Gwan-yong or Gwan Pyeong was very high. But he didn't rule out the other successors.
You never knew when or how a person might change. He had seen countless cases where someone he trusted without a doubt suddenly betrayed him.
‘But it's a bit strange. I don't know what they're plotting, but this method is fraught with risk.’
What if Seo Ryang killed Chae Yeomin, just as the rumor said?
The cultists would have no choice but to remain silent in a battle between gods. But their view of Seo Ryang wouldn't be favorable. Even in the brutal headquarters of the Demonic Path, Chae Yeomin was still just a child.
That was also why the cultists' opinion of Hong Wi-mun was at an all-time low. There was no physical evidence, but they knew he was targeting his sworn siblings with petty tactics.
However, as So Yeonsim said, it wouldn't be a major problem. What did age matter when choosing Papiyas's representative to usher in a new era? Public opinion was just that—opinion. It wasn't a decisive move that could turn the tables.
‘I'll receive unfavorable looks. But that's all. On the other hand, what if the identity of the person who spread this rumor is revealed?’
Even for those who didn't apply human standards, there were limits. The backlash would be beyond imagination. It wouldn't spark a debate about the successor's qualifications, but the majority of cultists would surely turn their backs on them.
Cruelty could be accepted, but pettiness was hard to tolerate. At the very least, it wasn't something a god should do.
Seo Ryang shrugged.
“Nothing is certain at the moment. Worrying about it won't give me any answers.”
As Seo Ryang stood up, he suddenly felt the strong sunlight.
“Has the sun already risen?”
He must have been deep in thought, enough to lose track of time.
“Good morning.”
Yeo Sang-rin approached from the side. Unlike yesterday, she was dressed in clean white clothes, her appearance breathtakingly beautiful.
Seo Ryang nodded.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
Yeo Sang-rin's face looked very refreshed. She had been a bit nervous on the first day, but after talking with Seo Ryang, she seemed to have regained her usual cheerfulness.
‘Right, she even cursed out the Lord of the Beast Palace back then, didn't she?’
The situation was so tense that he couldn't remember clearly, but he thought she had called him a son of a bitch or something. Seeing that, this girl's temper was no joke.
“Anyway, you really like white, don't you?”
“Huh?”
“Your skin is white, your clothes are white. And you eat a ton of rice. From now on, I'll call you White Rice.”
Yeo Sang-rin pouted.
“It's just that other people eat too little.”
“Even when I was growing, I couldn't eat like you. When it comes to stomachs, you could be considered a candidate for the best in the world.”
He had no idea where all that food went into her slender body. Perhaps her greatest asset was a digestive system that could even break down rocks.
“I was about to come out earlier, but it seemed like you were having an important conversation, so I waited. Is she someone of high rank?”
“Yeah, she's the Lord of the Garden of Joy. She's in charge of the cult's household affairs.”
“From what I saw, she's very beautiful.”
Seo Ryang grumbled.
“She's quite a looker. The problem is she's a fox in human skin.”
“Calling a person a fox…”
“We have an icicle and white rice, so what's a fox?”
He said as he walked toward the kitchen.
“Wait a bit. I'll make you some food.”
Yeo Sang-rin was flustered.
“Ah, I can do it…”
“I'm not so rude as to ask a guest to make their own food.”
Seo Ryang's eyes gleamed.
‘First, I need to feed the kids, then I'll make my move.’
* * *
“Grand Marshal.”
“What is it?”
“The Third Young Master has come to see you.”
Ho Yoseong smiled.
“I gave him such an obvious hint, and he only comes after a full day. Show him in.”
A moment later, Seo Ryang entered the office.
Ho Yoseong's face lit up as he stood.
“You've come.”
“Yes.”
Seo Ryang said as he looked around.
“This is the first time I've seen an office look so chaotic.”
Ho Yoseong's office was a complete mess, piled high with countless documents and unorganized books.
“Have you heard of order in chaos?”
“I don't know what that is, and I don't particularly want to.”
“To the eyes of a lesser man, it may look messy, but to the eyes of a great man, it will appear quite systematic.”
“That's by far the best nonsense I've heard recently.”
“Kyahaha!”
Ho Yoseong fussed over Seo Ryang, guiding him to a chair.
“You've eaten, I trust? Would you care for a cup of tea?”
“Anything but Gulsong tea.”
“You're sharp as a tack.”
“The scent has soaked into the office. I still don't understand why you drink that strange tea.”
“It's surprisingly addictive.”
Grumbling, Ho Yoseong brought out some Biluochun tea a moment later.
After taking a sip of tea, Seo Ryang asked bluntly.
“So, what was the reason for that obvious hint?”
“Oh? Getting straight to the point, are we?”
“How could I waste the time of the busy Grand Marshal with idle chatter?”
Ho Yoseong smiled.
“Is it really that you don't want to waste my time? Or are you just itching for a fight?”
Seo Ryang grinned.
“Did you hear the rumor?”
“Of course. I also heard that Lord So's carriage was headed for your residence earlier.”
“You really do know everything that goes on in the cult.”
“In real time, no less.”
“Then I've come to the right place.”
Ho Yoseong tilted his head, amused.
“Are you curious about who started the rumor?”
“Wouldn't I be? Who is it?”
“I don't know what you were expecting, but I cannot tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because I, too, must remain neutral.”
Seo Ryang scoffed and rolled his wrist. In an instant, the air in the office grew hot and stuffy.
“So you do know.”
Ho Yoseong said calmly.
“Of course. The Secret Pavilion is under my command. It would be harder not to know.”
“Will you continue to remain neutral?”
“I must. I really must, but…”
Ho Yoseong glanced at Seo Ryang's hand. That large hand looked like it could grab his throat at any moment.
“Are you going to cause trouble if I don't tell you?”
“I'm considering it.”
“You've matured a lot. In the past, you would have used your fists first.”
Ho Yoseong's eyes gleamed.
“It seems your perspective changed after your inspection work, didn't it?”
The man was indeed sharp as a tack.
Seo Ryang admitted it cleanly.
“I was thinking of giving it all up, holing up in some quiet place, and pursuing the path of inaction and nature. Back then.”
“And now?”
“Now, I'm thinking of wrecking everything and playing the master in this complicated place.”
Ho Yoseong's smile deepened.
“You intend to shatter the Righteous Heaven Alliance?”
“Did the Cult Leader tell you?”
“He's not one to say such things. I simply pieced together the current situation and your sudden change in words and actions.”
Seo Ryang couldn't help but shake his head.
This was why smart people were terrifying. The Young Lord of the Lower Five Gates, Gong Yachi, was like that, but Ho Yoseong was second to none when it came to using his head. He had figured out Seo Ryang's objective with just a little information and context.
“So, are you going to keep your mouth shut?”
“Yes.”
After a moment of contemplation, Seo Ryang nodded.
“I guess there's no other way.”
A line of tension appeared on Ho Yoseong's smiling face. He thought he had a good read on Seo Ryang, but he still didn't know the limits of this explosive man.
How would he act? How would this young tiger, who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, make his move?
“The tea was good.”
“Huh? You're leaving already?”
“I came here for something, but you said you can't give it to me. Is there any reason to stay?”
For a moment, Ho Yoseong was at a loss for words.
*But I'm the Grand Marshal… I'm a man of power, said to be below one and above all others…*
“But I haven't even brought up my own business yet.”
Seo Ryang waved his hand dismissively.
“I'm busy.”
“Even if you're busy, please spare a little time.”
“If you tell me who started the rumor, I'll think about it.”
“What kind of deal is that?”
“Are you done with the wordplay? I'm leaving.”
Seo Ryang stood up and immediately turned around. He really looked like he was about to leave.
Ho Yoseong scratched his head and said.
“If you're thinking of going to the First or Second Young Master's residence to cause a scene, you'd better not.”
Seo Ryang glanced at Ho Yoseong.
Seeing the question in his eyes, Ho Yoseong's face grew serious.
“I don't know if you've heard, but the First Young Master is not an easy opponent. If you just charge ahead recklessly like you did with the Fourth Young Master, you might fall off a cliff.”
“I'll take your advice to heart.”
“You'll need to hear more.”
“I'll listen later.”
Ho Yoseong sighed.
“Why are you so stubborn? If you're always like this, you'll get into big trouble someday. You're not one to be unaware of that.”
Seo Ryang, who had been staring blankly at Ho Yoseong, suddenly clasped his fist.
“We may not be close, but I've always been grateful to you, Marshal Ho.”
“…Huh?”
“Please continue to dedicate yourself to the cult. Your dedication to the cult is a blessing to me as well.”
*…Why is he suddenly acting like this?*
Seo Ryang smiled.
“Let's conclude our conversation for today. I will visit you again within three days. We can catch up properly over drinks then.”
Ho Yoseong frowned.
‘What? Why is he suddenly acting this way?’
The sudden change left even the great Ho Yoseong speechless.
And with that, Seo Ryang left the office. Left alone in the office with the lingering scent of tea, Ho Yoseong's face was filled with confusion.
“Dedicate myself to the cult? Is that something to be so thankful for?”
Coming back in three days? Why did he emphasize three days?
As Ho Yoseong tried to gather his thoughts while drinking tea, a sudden realization made him drop his teacup.
*Clang!*
The fallen teacup shattered with a loud noise, but Ho Yoseong didn't even notice.
“…That guy?!”
* * *
“O-older brother?!”
“It's been a while.”
Seo Ryang smiled and patted Chae Yeomin's head.
Chae Yeomin's face flushed. She hadn't heard that Seo Ryang had returned to the cult yet.
“When did you get back?”
“I arrived yesterday.”
“Oh, I see.”
Chae Yeomin smiled brightly.
Seeing his youngest sibling after so long, she was as cute as ever. So cute he wanted to pinch her cheeks.
“How was Yunnan? I heard it's much hotter than here.”
Seo Ryang shook his head.
“Don't even ask. It was incredibly hot and rained a ton. You have no idea how much I suffered, Yeomin.”
“Wow.”
She was a genius, but her experience of the world was still limited. For Chae Yeomin, who had never left the cult's grounds since joining, stories from the world below the mountain were more fascinating than anything.
Seo Ryang, smiling at Chae Yeomin, glanced to the side.
A maid who looked to be in her mid-thirties stood there with a tense expression. She seemed to be the maid named Sodang that Chae Yeomin had mentioned in the past.
“Yeomin, are you busy by any chance?”
“Huh? Ah, no! My morning training is over! I'm not busy!”
“Really? Then how about going for a walk with your big brother?”
Chae Yeomin's face lit up.
“Yes! Yes!”
Sodang's eyebrows twitched.
Was it urgency? She abruptly took a step forward and bowed her head.
“Young Mistress, I apologize, but this afternoon you have your studies on emperorship…”
“Hey.”
Seo Ryang frowned.
“What's going to happen if she misses one day of emperorship studies? Why do you hound a child like that?”
“I apologize, but the Young Mistress's schedule must be strictly followed. It has always been so, and it will continue to be. Even you, Third Young Master, have no right to interfere.”
Her tone was quite bold.
Seo Ryang sensed deep worry and sharp tension in her voice.
‘She's heard the rumor.’
Her tone was a bit grating, but at the same time, he could tell how much she worried about Chae Yeomin.
Seo Ryang let out a short laugh.
“I'm not interfering with Yeomin's education right now.”
“Then if you would excuse us…”
“So you shouldn't interfere either, in a conversation between sworn siblings.”
“What?”
“Where did you learn the habit of interrupting your superiors' conversations? Did the Lord of the Garden of Joy teach you that?”
Sodang felt her words catch in her throat.
But she couldn't back down here. If the rumor was true, the Young Mistress was in extreme danger.
“I was just…”
“Well, it's not like I don't understand. Dongpil crosses the line sometimes too.”
Seo Ryang said to Chae Yeomin.
“How about we go for a little walk and then go see our eldest brother?”
“Our eldest brother?”
“Yeah.”
Chae Yeomin's smile grew even brighter.
“Okay!”
Seo Ryang grinned at Sodang.
“What's the use of learning emperorship from a book?”
“...!”
“If you're worried, you can come along too. See and feel for yourself how Yeomin should be taught from now on.”
“W-what?!”
There was no time to stop him. Seo Ryang had already lifted Chae Yeomin into his arms, as if holding a niece.
Seo Ryang's eyes sparkled.
“Life is the real deal.”